Oct 31 2005
No Tricks–Only Treats!
With the amazing mathematical algorithms courtesy of Random.org, I got six completely random numbers, and matched them up to the corresponding number on the sidebar.
The Socktoberfest 2005 prize winners are:
Sarah at Bluegarter.org wins the Fleece Artist Merino donated by Simply Socks Yarn Company!
Kristi at NeedleFingers wins the donated Opal 6-ply from Yarnzilla.com!
Anne at Knit 'Nabler wins the Woolarina hand-dyed sock yarn!
Sydney at As the Yarn Turns wins the goodie bag from DiscountYarnSale.com!
Rose at Enchanted Ewe wins the Opal Handpaint donated by Jess!
Eyeleen at Knitting by Eye wins the Mountain Colors Bearfoot donated by me!
CONGRATS!
So are you one of the lucky six??? If so, please EMAIL ME!
**If I do not hear from you within 48 hours of the time this entry posts, a new winner will by randomly selected. These prizes cannot linger 
(Didn't get lucky here? there is still time to join Kira's contest–deadline is tonight at 11pm Pacific time!)
You did know that all socks STARTED in the month of October counted, right? Cause I got about a MILLION emails in the past few days telling me you are all racing to finish! Don't kill yourselves, girlfriends! I still have WIP socks too!
I will be updating with the remaining Socktoberfest 2005 news until there is no more news to share… but that does not mean that you can wait till Socktoberfest 2006 before you finish them!
I only finished one pair of socks this month…
…and that was technically before Socktoberfest officially started!
I do have one sock of a pair finished…
…and another one on the needles (Dublin Bay in yesterday's post)
This is a no-pressure knitalong for a reason–I didn't want pressure on myself! 
That being said, there are SO MANY wonderful finished pairs I just have to share! If you don't see your name up here and you have a finished pair, let me know by leaving a comment to this post, and I will get your name up here ASAP!
And in case you just can't stop knitting socks, here two more knitalongs you may be interested in: Anmiryam's Fuzzy Feet-along! and PixiePurls' Solid Sock KAL!
Lastly, I was tagged for this meme by my friends, Yahaira and Winnie…
What is your all time favourite yarn to knit with?
Although I found out about LB Cotton Ease in its "twilight" months (right before it got discontinued), I so enjoyed working with it. I made a pullover, and have some stash Cotton Ease for a tank, a baby knit, and another pullover or hoodie. I love the texture of it, and how easy it is to get gauge with. I also really enjoyed working with Dale of Norway Sisik yarn.
Your favourite needles?
Addi Natura circs. Great pointy tip, and sturdy bamboo. Perfect needles in my book. In terms of straights, I also like bamboo. DPNs? I like bamboo and metal for socks.
The worst thing you've ever knit?
I don't even have a picture of it because it was so bad… it was my first scarf ever… knit with LB Woolease Thich and Quick. It was a kit that we used in my first knitting class. It was an ugly color, and my gauge as so uneven… better left unseen!
Your most favorite knit pattern? (maybe you don't like wearing it…but it was the most fun to knit)
I really enjoyed making my Tempting sweater. It was a very simple ribbed pattern. I liked the yoke construction, and used this same technique for my Balmoral cardigan. However, I don't like the way Tempting wears–it has stretched so much since I made it… it is not a good fit anymore. I think I may unravel it and reknit it about 2 sizes smaller one of these days… I also loved knitting the "Kahlo" afghan for my sister's wedding present. I saw it again while in Hawaii, and I think I need one of my own!
Most valuable knitting technique?
Short rows. I have only used them on socks, but the technique is perfect for busty girls (like me) who need a little more room up top.
Best knit book or magazine?
I am consistently happy with Interweave Knits–sometimes they may only have one of two things I like, and some great articles. Other times they have a magazine full of beautiful things. I also really like Last Minute Knitted Gifts, and have one knit from that book on the needles, and another waiting in the wings.
Your favourite knit-a-long?
I have not joined too many knitalongs because I don't like the pressure to finish… however, I have started two no-pressure knitalongs myself. I don't want to "toot my own horn" but I just loved the way that Socktoberfest 2005 caught on and the inspiration I received from each and every blogger in the group. I learned SO MUCH. Little tips and techniques were so helpful. It was a great community effort. So much so that I can't wait for Socktoberfest 2006!
Your favourite knitblogs?
This is not the way I roll, girlfriends. I don't play favorites. However, I will say, I have met so many fabulous knitbloggers, my Bloglines has grown to over 300 people. It is hard to keep up with all of you!
Your favourite knitwear designer?
I find myself consistently attracted to Kim Hargreaves designs, Veronik Avery, and Teva Durham. I like many of Stef's patterns, especially the new cardi.
The knit item you wear the most? (how about a picture of it!)
Accessory: Colinette Giotto scarf (I just wore this tonight!)
Garment: Dale of Norway Balmoral cardigan
Tag: This is a fun and informative meme. If you liked reading my answers, and want to answer them on your blog, go for it! Consider yourself tagged by Lolly
Hi Lolly…glad you are home with us again ; ) I’ve been having trouble w/my email, so if you sent something today, I may not have gotten it. Bummer..I wasn’t a winner. I’ll have to study those mathematical algorithms and see if I can fix it to win next socktober! Ha Ha! Thanks for all of your work… it was a fab time!
BTW…my girls got 860 pieces of candy this evening..amazing huh? What are your favorites?…I’ll bring some to knit nite. Don’t tell; )
Happy Halloween!
Oh my goodness, what a treat! Thanks, Lolly and Woolarina!! (but now I can no longer say that I *never* win anything…)
Socktoberfest has been a blast — I’m glad the updates will continue past the end of the month.
Hi Lolly,
Welcome home! Sounds like you had a great time. I finished my Socktober socks this weekend and posted a picture on my blog today.
Thanks for doing this, it’s been a great month!
I finished a cheater pair, but I have 3 other pairs on needles for the month!
Yay, I got the pictures of my second set uploaded!
You did an awesome job with Socktober! I love seeing everyone’s finished socks!
I finished my lone pair - inspired me to knit more socks! Thanks again for organizing this! The yarn you used for the reddish socks is beautiful!
I finished my pair at 11 p.m. PST tonight. I’m too late for any prizes, but I did finish the socks! Thanks for the fun!
I finished a pair last night, just scraping in before midnight! I was so pleased I cast on another sock straight away, so I guess that counts too! I’ll put a picture of the finished ones up on my blog today. Thanks for such a fun knitalong!
Socktoberfest was great! So much inspiration and great to see others going throigh some of teh smae things. Im an idiot and didn’t think of socktoberfest as a kal though when filling out the meme. doh!! This was definately great.
I need to try these addi naturas I keep hearing about, but they are so hard to find for some reason
Glad you’re back home!
‘lo Lol! Guess what. I bought some yarn yesterday. I need to get started girl, and I need you to help me. I have always been a fiber fan, you know and I just love these colors. It’ll just be scarves at first but that’s great! I love the scarf on todays blog. XXOO
Hey Lolly,
No finished socks, but I did post a picture on my blog for you yesterday
Socktober Fest was a resounding success — congratulations!!
Welcome Home!!! Thanks for hosting such a fun Knitalong (even though I only finished 1.6 socks). It was so much fun to see everyone’s choice of sock yarn and patterns. You were a wonderful hostess.
congrats ladies!!!! lolly i Love that scarf, looke up the yarn, very pretty! and that cardi has always been a fav of mine too!
Yay to the winners!! Congratulations!!!
Thanks Lolly for hosting such a wonderful Knit-Along!!
Hi Lolly,
Thanks for having such a great contest. I emailed you about the Handpainted Opal- please let me know if you don’t get the email. I love your pictures of Hawaii. Welcome home.
Rose
I had a finished pair!–
I have a finished pair–finished last night and posted today! Thanks for having such a fun knitalong
Congrats to the winners.
Thanks for a wonderful KAL - we’ll have to do it again next year. And thanks for the great answers to the meme - very insightful.
Sigh, I’ll hope that I’ll be a winner next year. Congrats to the others, they are lucky ladies!
That meme is interesting, recommendations for tools and patterns are always useful. Hope to see you soon!
Thank you for a great Socktoberfest KAL!! I loved your Hawaii photos too. You amaze me: a KAL and a vacation all in the same month!!
Wow! I love all of your Hawaii photos!
It looks like you had such a great time!
Congrats on the success of Socktoberfest! I hope you make it an annual event.
Amy
Congratulations to all the winners! And thanks Lolly for all your work…it was such a fun knit along!
Congrats to all the lucky winners! How fun to have so many great prizes. Lolly, your fixation sock looks great! Can’t wait to see the finished pair. And thanks so much for all your hard work hostessing this great KAL- I’ve had such fun looking at all the fabulous socks and “meeting” the equally fabulous knitbloggers behind them.
You started something really wonderful. Hope you got lots of candy, whoops, I mean, had a fun Halloween! 
Thanks, Lolly, for a great KAL…can’t wait until next year. You inspired me to begin & complete my first sock! The dreaded second sock begins tonight…
And I have plans for making many more socks to come!
Congratulations to the winners!
Welcome back Lolly! Your holiday photos are lovely, it must have been hard to leave all this behind.
I finished a pair of socks. They aren’t pictured on my blog because they are a gift, but I have a link to the photo. Sneaky, but not too sneaky. Thanks for the KAL. I couldn’t wait to start a pair of socks. You renewed my excitement about socks that had wained for about three weeks.
Lolly,
Socktober was such fun. Thank you for organizing it. It was great. I finally finished my socks today. Only a day late.
I just saw your HI trip pictures and they are gorgeous! I am so glad you had a wonderful time Lauren! Also, thanks so much for running soctoberfest! You are doing a great job. Yeah right, finish socks! No way man, these babies aren’t getting finished until December
Thanks for the Socktoberfest - it has certainly motivated me to make a dent in my sock yarn stash!
Thanks again for the KAL! It was fun-I am going to sneak in a sock whenever I can. And thanks for the comment-take care!
I finished a pair and started another:
http://sagebrush.typepad.com/knotagain/2005/10/second_verse_sa.html
Thanks for hosting Socktoberfest, lolly! It was fun! I’m like you, I only finished one pair. But steadily working on a second sock. I can’t wait to finish it!
Lovely finished socks Lolly! You should definitely commend yourself for being able to finish a pair, especially since you had to run the whole Socktoberfest on top of classes and everything else you had going on! Thanks for such an awesome knit-along!
Great socks and I love that scarf!
Thanks for your comment about my Trekking socks. I love them and wear them frequently. I need to get some more Trekking yarn.
Hi Lolly, thanks for this Socktober. It was much fun to cherish socks and watch others doing so as well. I’m impressed, you did a great job and even while being on vacation! Lolly, you sock, ehm, ..ock, no that’s it: rock!
I’m so glad you’re thinking about Socktober 2006.
I missed this year’s because I had too much going on but would like to join next year! So you’ve got one person signed up already.
Hey Lol,
I got your message tonight. My cell phone isn’t working at all for some reason, so maybe you could call back sometime this week, or I might call you when I am around, and try to say something so you will know I’m in my room..it’s really odd. I love seeing all your stuff on here. You are a cute girl!!! I love you…